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Voltaire was born François-Marie Arouet on this day in Paris, 1694. This Enlightenment writer was constantly being exiled and imprisoned for his thoughts, criticisms, and texts concerning the state of the world around him. Be it philosophy, history, or religion – he had sass for all of it. His most snarky and well-known masterpiece is Candid.

Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir was born on this day in Iceland, 1965. How to explain her? The tiniest girl with the biggest sound, a voice unearthly and a creative soul to match – this singer-songwriter has her fingers in many musical pies from electronica to classical, and everything in-between.

Don DeLillo was born on this day in New York City, 1936. Novelist, essayist, and playwright, DeLillo is called a postmodernist though he’s not a fan of labels. He takes great pleasure and influence from things outside literature such as jazz and film; and he addresses many topics – from sports to the violence of consumerism. The man is just crazy prolific.

Duane Allman

Duane Allman was born on this day in Nashville, 1946. He’s Gregg Allman’s older brother; and it shouldn’t be hard to figure out what southern rock/blues band those two inspired. Although the Allman Brothers would go on longer than Duane (he died in a motorcycle accident just a few years after the group came together), he will truly never be forgotten.

Howard Smith’s interviews for The Village Voice from 1969 – 1972 will be released over the course of next year. There are more than 100 interviews, some of which include John and Yoko, Frank Zappa, and Lou Reed. http://nyti.ms/S4rWj5